Chapter 6: Coordination compound

1. Define coordination number for a metal ion in a complex

2. Name the molecular geometries associated with coordination numbers of 2, 4 and 6

3. For each of the following ligands, determine the number and type of donor atoms in the ligand:

a. ethylenediamine (en)
b. oxalate ion (C2O42-)
c. [EDTA]4-

4. Determine the coordination numbers of the metal ion in the following complexes:

a. [Au(CN)4]-
b. [Co(NH3)4(H2O)2]Cl3
c. [Au(en)2]Cl3

5. Determine the oxidation numbers of the metal ion in the following complexes:

a. [Cr(C2O4)3]3-
b. [Mo(en)3]3+
c. K3[Cr(CN)6]
d. [PtCl4]2-

6. State the systematic name for the following compounds:

a. K3[FeF6]
b. Na2[CdCl4]
c. [Co(NH3)4(H2O)Br]Br2
d. [Pt(en)2Br2](ClO4)2

7. Give formulas based on the following names:

a. Pentaamminechlorochromium(III) chloride
b. Dibromobis(ethylenediamine)cobalt(III) sulfate
c. Potassium hexacyanoferrate(II)
8. For any of the following that can exist as isomers, state the type of isomerism and draw the
structures:

a. [Cr(NH3)5(NO2)]2+
b. [Pt(NH3)4I2]2+

9. Define the following:

a. coordination isomerism

b. ionasation isomerism

c. linkage isomerism

d. hydrate isomerism

10. Determine the ligands that can form linkage isomers and explain with Lewis structures:

a. SCN-
c. HS-

11. Differentiate optical isomer and geometric isomer

12. Sketch mirror images of each of the following. From these sketches, determine whether optical
isomers exist and note this fact on the drawings.

a. [Rh(en)3]3+
b. trans-[Cr(NH3)2(SCN)4]-

13. According to VB theory, what set of orbitals is used by a Period 4 metal ion in forming:

a. a square planar complex

b. a tetrahedral complex

14. A metal ion uses d2sp3 orbitals when forming a complex. State its coordination number and shape.

15. Use valence-bond theory to explain formation of [Fe(CN)6 ]4- , [Ni(CN)4 ]2- and [Ni(NH3)6 ] 2+ complex
ion.

16. Define crystal field theory.

17. Draw orbital energy splitting diagram and use the spectrochemical series to show the orbital
occupancy for each of the following:
 a. [Cr(H2O)6]3+
b. [FeF6]3-
c. [NiCl4]2-
d. [PtCl2(NH3)2]
e. [Ni(CN)4]2-

18. Draw the orbital splitting diagram for [Fe(CN)6]3- and [Fe(CN)6]4- and state the magnetism for each
compound.

19. Rank the following in the order of increasing Δ and energy of light absorbed: [Cr(NH3)6]3+ ,
[Cr(H2O)6]3+, [Cr(NO2)6]3-

20. The tetraaquazinc(II) ion, [Zn(H2O)4]2+ , is colourless. Explain why this might be expected.